Six addicts killed by normal heroin

THE six heroin addicts who died over an eight-day period are thought to have been killed by normal heroin and not contaminated heroin.

Garda sources suspect the users, aged between 26 and 40, may have died after injecting more of the drug then they normally do or took heroin after being off it for a period of time.

Drug officers are investigating reports that at least some of the deceased purchased a larger than usual quantity of heroin after receiving a double social welfare payment on November 21.

The deaths of the five men and one woman occurred between November 22 and 29. Four died on the northside of Dublin, one in north Co Dublin and one in south Dublin.

“We have no information that they died as a result of contaminated heroin and there is nothing yet to indicate that,” said one garda source.

He said the possibility still existed and that it could not be ruled out until the results of toxicological tests were complete.

“It may be the case that because of a double dole payment on November 21 people purchased more than they usually do and took more than they are used to. People who had been off the drug may also have took some after receiving the money and overdosed.”

Gardaí have not ruled out the possibility that heroin of a higher than normal purity could also have been responsible.

The head of the UN Office on Drugs recently warned that the bumper crops of opium in Afghanistan was likely to result in higher purity heroin, although this is not thought to start happening until 2007.

The Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) was informed by the Dublin City Coroner last Friday about the six reported deaths and set up an investigation.

Four of the six are thought to have had addresses in the north inner city. However, drug workers yesterday said they had not established if any were locals.

Gardaí said one of the deceased found on Railway Street is thought to be from Crumlin in south Dublin.

The deaths come at a time when the north inner city is due to hold the 10th anniversary of the lighting of its Christmas Tree in memory of those who have died from heroin in the area.

Organisers had planned to have a more celebratory atmosphere at the lighting event, which happens at 7.30pm on Thursday, to mark the 10th anniversary.

Community activist Paddy Malone said the deaths would be mentioned and that they brought home the ongoing drugs tragedy.